We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Global oil demand witnessed trying times recently due to the Coronavirus pandemic that put China on lockdown and sent ripples of distress through financial markets. Rising tensions over oil supply in the South American and African regions also induced volatility in global oil prices.
However, recent developments gave oil prices a rather sharp uptick, prompting oil futures to hit the highest settlement in almost three weeks on Feb 19.
West Texas Intermediate crude for March delivery rose $1.24 (2.4%) to settle at $53.29 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after closing Tuesday’s session witnessing no change. April Brent crude gained $1.37 (also 2.4%) to reach $59.12 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe.
China’s Rate Cut to Boost Oil Demand
Of the many reasons that drove oil prices is Chinacutting its loan prime rate (LPR) in a bid to boost its economy despite the deadly Coronavirus outbreak. The 1-year LPR was lowered by 10 basis points and the 5-year LPR witnessed a 5 basis points reduction.
This development is expected to raise demand for oil in the Asian country, which has been weak because of the prevalent pandemic. After all, China is the world’s second biggest oil consumer and any disruption in the country’s demand affects global oil prices.
Will US Sanction of Russian Oil Giant Hurt Crude Supply?
On Feb 18, the United States imposed tough economic sanctions on the Russian company Rosneft Trading, a subsidiary of the Russian state-controlled Rosneft Oil company, that operates in Venezuela and kept President Nicolás Maduro’s government buoyant.
According to The New York Times, the company exports about two-thirds of the country’s oil, an act Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin coined as the “looting of Venezuela’s oil assets by the corrupt Maduro regime.”
Although the sanctions aren’t expected to affect the global financial markets much but the repercussions could deal a heavy blow to Venezuela’s economy. The country’s oil exports have been in the line of fire ever since the Trump administration began a campaign in 2019 to put pressure on Maduro for quitting his post, following his broadly disputed re-election in May 2018.
Given that China, which is the world’s largest crude oil importer, is already providing a stimulus to its economy, oil demand in the country should rebound in the near future. In such a scenario, trimming Venezuela’s 700,000 barrels of daily oil input could enable the country make its presence felt in the global oil market.
Will OPEC+ Slash Oil Production Ahead?
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) along with non-OPEC members (collectively known as OPEC+) is set to meet in Vienna on Mar 6, per the confirmation to Reuters by Russia’s deputy energy minister Pavel Sorokin.
Since Jan 1, 2020, OPEC+ instated an agreement to cut its oil production by 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) while Saudi Arabia also agreed to decrease production by 400,000 bpd. If the OPEC+ follows the oil production cuts, oil prices could continue to scale higher.
Libyan Oil Ports Close Amid Conflict
The unrest in Libya brought about harrowing times for the country and its oil reserves. As Libya’s combatants prepare themselves for a long conflict amid the arrival of advanced foreign artillery and fighters, eastern factions in the country sealed its oil ports while rival alliances fight over revenues from Africa’s largest petroleum reserves, per Reuters.
This clash to control the country’s oil wealth not only threatens to fuel its raging unrest but also limit the export of oil, thus impacting oil revenues and supply alike.
As Oil Prices Soar, These 3 Stocks Are Poised to Gain
We therefore hand-picked three oil stocks that are well-positioned to gain ahead on the back of the aforementioned factors, all stocks carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
RGC Resources, Inc. (RGCO - Free Report) is an energy services company. It markets and distributes natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers in Roanoke, VA, and in the localities nearby. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RGC Resources’ current-year earnings has moved 9.7% north in the past 60 days. The company sports a Zacks Rank of 1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Hess Corporation (HES - Free Report) is an exploration and production company. It explores, develops, produces, transports and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas, etc. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hess’ current-year earnings has moved 84.6% north in the past 60 days. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Marathon Oil Corporation (MRO - Free Report) is an energy company engaged in the exploration, production and marketing of crude oil and condensate, natural gas liquids and natural gas etc. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Marathon Oil’s current-year earnings has moved 76.9% north in the past 60 days. The company carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
Image: Bigstock
3 Stocks to Play Oil's Sharp Upward Movement
Global oil demand witnessed trying times recently due to the Coronavirus pandemic that put China on lockdown and sent ripples of distress through financial markets. Rising tensions over oil supply in the South American and African regions also induced volatility in global oil prices.
However, recent developments gave oil prices a rather sharp uptick, prompting oil futures to hit the highest settlement in almost three weeks on Feb 19.
West Texas Intermediate crude for March delivery rose $1.24 (2.4%) to settle at $53.29 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after closing Tuesday’s session witnessing no change. April Brent crude gained $1.37 (also 2.4%) to reach $59.12 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe.
China’s Rate Cut to Boost Oil Demand
Of the many reasons that drove oil prices is Chinacutting its loan prime rate (LPR) in a bid to boost its economy despite the deadly Coronavirus outbreak. The 1-year LPR was lowered by 10 basis points and the 5-year LPR witnessed a 5 basis points reduction.
This development is expected to raise demand for oil in the Asian country, which has been weak because of the prevalent pandemic. After all, China is the world’s second biggest oil consumer and any disruption in the country’s demand affects global oil prices.
Will US Sanction of Russian Oil Giant Hurt Crude Supply?
On Feb 18, the United States imposed tough economic sanctions on the Russian company Rosneft Trading, a subsidiary of the Russian state-controlled Rosneft Oil company, that operates in Venezuela and kept President Nicolás Maduro’s government buoyant.
According to The New York Times, the company exports about two-thirds of the country’s oil, an act Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin coined as the “looting of Venezuela’s oil assets by the corrupt Maduro regime.”
Although the sanctions aren’t expected to affect the global financial markets much but the repercussions could deal a heavy blow to Venezuela’s economy. The country’s oil exports have been in the line of fire ever since the Trump administration began a campaign in 2019 to put pressure on Maduro for quitting his post, following his broadly disputed re-election in May 2018.
Given that China, which is the world’s largest crude oil importer, is already providing a stimulus to its economy, oil demand in the country should rebound in the near future. In such a scenario, trimming Venezuela’s 700,000 barrels of daily oil input could enable the country make its presence felt in the global oil market.
Will OPEC+ Slash Oil Production Ahead?
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) along with non-OPEC members (collectively known as OPEC+) is set to meet in Vienna on Mar 6, per the confirmation to Reuters by Russia’s deputy energy minister Pavel Sorokin.
Since Jan 1, 2020, OPEC+ instated an agreement to cut its oil production by 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) while Saudi Arabia also agreed to decrease production by 400,000 bpd. If the OPEC+ follows the oil production cuts, oil prices could continue to scale higher.
Libyan Oil Ports Close Amid Conflict
The unrest in Libya brought about harrowing times for the country and its oil reserves. As Libya’s combatants prepare themselves for a long conflict amid the arrival of advanced foreign artillery and fighters, eastern factions in the country sealed its oil ports while rival alliances fight over revenues from Africa’s largest petroleum reserves, per Reuters.
This clash to control the country’s oil wealth not only threatens to fuel its raging unrest but also limit the export of oil, thus impacting oil revenues and supply alike.
As Oil Prices Soar, These 3 Stocks Are Poised to Gain
We therefore hand-picked three oil stocks that are well-positioned to gain ahead on the back of the aforementioned factors, all stocks carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
RGC Resources, Inc. (RGCO - Free Report) is an energy services company. It markets and distributes natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers in Roanoke, VA, and in the localities nearby. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RGC Resources’ current-year earnings has moved 9.7% north in the past 60 days. The company sports a Zacks Rank of 1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Hess Corporation (HES - Free Report) is an exploration and production company. It explores, develops, produces, transports and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas, etc. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hess’ current-year earnings has moved 84.6% north in the past 60 days. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Marathon Oil Corporation (MRO - Free Report) is an energy company engaged in the exploration, production and marketing of crude oil and condensate, natural gas liquids and natural gas etc. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Marathon Oil’s current-year earnings has moved 76.9% north in the past 60 days. The company carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>